Gutter Guard Mesh Secured Using Adhesive

ABSTRACT

A gutter guard mesh for application to the gutter/roof interface of a roof includes a length of woven mesh or the like having an array of apertures dimensioned to maximise traversal by rain water and minimise traversal of accumulated debris from the roof wherein at least a first edge of the mesh is fitted on a first side with a double sided acrylic foam closed cell tape having acrylic adhesive on both sides and on a second opposing side with a double sided butyl tape wherein the free side of the foam tape is available for adherence to the gutter via the acrylic adhesive and the free side of the butyl tape is available for adherence of a protective laminate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from Australian ProvisionalPatent Application 2010902913 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application61/359,931 the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the protection of roof gutters and incursionof roof debris into gutters, and in particular, relates to an improvedgutter guard incorporating heavy-duty mesh and adapted for adhesiveapplication to a gutter and associated roofing.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The provision of a retro-fittable mesh guard to provide an effectivecover for the open gutters associated with many roofing systems in amanner to effectively deflect debris accumulating on the roof andsimultaneously maximise the transmission of water falling on the roofwhilst straightforward in principal, has proved elusive in practice;

particularly when a high quality and durable adhesive system is soughtin combination with a robust and heavy duty meshing so as to maximisethe simplicity of application and minimise the need for mechanicalfixture.

The original proposals for self-adhesive gutter guarding included theuse of lightweight fibreglass mesh having a double sided adhesive,applied along the edge thereof. The early adhesive bonding tapes werenot UV stabilised and were subject to premature deterioration resultingin bonding failure resulting in an unacceptable short life to theseearly products.

In order to address these premature failures of the early gutter guardmeshes, it was found that a double sided adhesive tape applied to themesh edge and a thin metal laminate applied directly opposing the otherside of the mesh could, under pressure, provide a mesh having a metallaminate on one edge and a self-adhesive region on the opposing edge,such that application to the roof and gutters of buildings, couldtheoretically provide protection to the adhesive region of the mesh andimprove longevity of these earlier products. Whilst the improvements tothe fibreglass mesh added to the lifespan of this resulting product, itwas found that fibreglass as a mesh material, lacks sufficient strength,stability and longevity that would be desirable in harsher environments.Moreover, the inability of fibreglass mesh to resist ember attack,renders its application limited, particularly in high bushfire attackregions. In response to such commercial demands, modified gutter guardproducts of the type previously described were prepared using analogoustechniques with the use of high quality stainless steel and similarmeshes. However, it was revealed that the increased resilience of thethicker, less pliable meshes such as stainless steel, provided anunacceptable increase in the pressure applied to the bonding actionbetween the layers of materials and the laminate. Accordingly, suchmeshes were found to be unsatisfactory as they experienced bond failure.In order to address such premature bond failures, a range of physicalfastening accessories were developed of the like disclosed in AustralianPatent 2006201429. Whilst the improvements provided with suchaccessories were valuable, it was found that the installation and labourinvolved, in addition to the potential breaking or interference with theroofing iron, did not provide a full solution to the problem at hand.

An alternative approach to addressing the adhesive failures of theheavier mesh, included experimentation to increase the thickness of theadhesive tapes. However, the manufacturing problems encountered in thepreparation and application of a thicker tape, in addition to thepotential compromise to the products stability by the use of a heaviertape, including laminate separation, also failed to provide a suitableanswer to the problem at hand.

Further investigation into the limitations encountered with the use ofthicker tapes, revealed that double-sided adhesive tapes made up ofpolyurethane and acrylic foam, retain a physical memory, even after thetape has been applied to the mesh and pressed together under extremepressure; such that, within relatively short period of time, the tapefoam compound would seek to retain its original form, leading to highstress on the adhesive bonds formed and thereby leading to prematurebond failure.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide an improvedgutter guard self adhesive mesh comprising a heavyweight mesh, having anadhesive tape applied to one edge thereof, being adapted for selfadhesion to a gutter and roofing system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the invention provides a gutter guard mesh forapplication to the gutter/roof interface of a roof comprising a lengthof woven mesh or the like having an array of apertures dimensioned tomaximise traversal by rain water and minimise traversal of accumulateddebris from said roof wherein at least a first edge of said mesh isfitted on a first side with a double sided acrylic foam closed cell tapehaving acrylic adhesive on both sides.

The foam tape is preferably characterised by a solventless UV curedacrylic polymer core of about 1000 microns having visco-elasticproperties. Most preferably each side of the tape core is coated withabout 50 micron thick solvent based modified acrylic-adhesive to enhancethe initial tack and wet-out characteristics. The tape includes anacrylic foam closed cell construction and is most preferably T711GN.

In another aspect the invention provides a gutter guard mesh forapplication to the gutter/roof interface of a roof comprising a lengthof woven mesh or the like having an array of apertures dimensioned tomaximise traversal by rain water and minimise traversal of accumulateddebris from said roof wherein at least a first edge of said mesh isfitted on a first side with a double sided acrylic foam closed cell tapehaving acrylic adhesive on both sides and on a second opposing side witha double sided butyl tape wherein the free side of said foam tape isavailable for adherence to said gutter via said acrylic adhesive and thefree side of said butyl tape is available for adherence of a protectivelaminate.

The mesh preferably includes a protective laminate being a metallic orother durable protective strip to provide protection to the adhesivelayers once applied to the gutter.

The butyl tape on the second opposing side of the mesh preferablyincorporates a polyethylene reinforcing mesh embedded into the corethereof so as to provide additional strength.

The butyl tape preferably comprises the following formulation:

Base materials PE net 2-3% (wt)

Adhesive

Butyl rubber 17-23%

Calcium carbonate 33-37%

Thermoplastic resin 17-23%

Process oil 10-15%

Manganese dioxide 1-2%

Others 1-2%

Release paper

PE laminated paper 5-8%

Release agent 0-0.4%

The woven mesh is preferably chosen from stainless steel or aluminiumand has a mesh made up of 12 to 14 strands per inch, a wire diameter of0.25 mm and 2 mm apertures throughout the mesh. The aluminium mesh maybe coated to provide additional protection and the coating may becoloured to match the roof colour.

In another aspect the invention provides a method of protecting anexposed gutter comprising the application of a gutter guard mesh aspreviously described to the lip of a gutter and to the roof to which itis attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of gutter guard mesh according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing installation of the gutter guardmesh of FIG. 1 to a metal corrugated roofing;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing installation of the gutter guardmesh of FIG. 1 to a slate asphalt or tiling roofing;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of gutter guard mesh according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3which show a particularly preferred embodiment of the inventionincluding the application of the adhesive layers to the first and secondside of a stainless steel or other highly durable mesh so as to providea durable, reliable and self-adhesive mesh strip for application togutters, rooves and the like.

Referring now to the Figures, the gutter guard mesh of the inventioncomprises a length of woven mesh 2 of stainless steel, aluminium orother durable material, having an array of apertures dimensioned tomaximise traversal of rain water and minimise traversal of accumulateddebris from the roof 8 when the mesh is applied so as to bridge the roof8 and an attached gutter 7. The mesh is preferably a wire of 0.25 mmthickness at 12 to 14 strands per inch with 2 mm apertures. The meshapertures are shown in the figures as phantom schematic only and do notnecessarily represent the actual aperture dimensions. The mesh isdesigned for self-adhesion to the gutter along a first edge of the mesh,with a double-sided acrylic foam closed cell tape 1, applied to thefirst underside of one edge of the mesh. The foam tape has acrylicadhesive on both sides thereof and therefore adheres to the mesh on oneside and on the free side, is available for adhesion to the gutter edge.The construction of the foam tape preferably includes a closed cellfoam. The opposing side, being the second side of the same first edge ofthe mesh, may be provided with a double-sided butyl tape 3. The butyltape 3 is self-adhesive per se and is adhered to the second opposingside of the mesh. The application of pressure, effectively sandwichesthe mesh between the butyl tape and the foam tape applied to the firstopposing side. The mesh is therefore provided with different adhesiveson the first and second sides and the free side of the butyl tape isthen fitted with a protective laminate 4, preferably taking the form ofan aluminium or other metallic protective laminate.

In this manner, a first edge of the mesh may be built up with a layer ofdiffering adhesives on the under and upper side, which provide for thediffering adhesive forces required to ensure the mesh remains adhered tothe gutter whilst also retaining adhesion of the protective laminate 4.

The butyl layer is preferably reinforced with a polyethylene meshembedded into the core thereof so as to provide further integralstrength to the butyl tape layer.

In this manner, the provision of multiple layers of differing adhesivesof varying qualities have allowed for the necessary flexibility andcompliance of the overall adhesive. The differing adhesive requirementsfor adhesion to the mesh in contrast to adhesion to the metal laminateand/or the gutter or roof, have utilised the best adhesive qualities ofthe differing adhesive layers and in effect, provided a gutter guardproduct having up to seven different bonding interfaces. The differentboding interfaces maximise the ability of a mesh so formed to bond to agutter and/or roof on one side, and a metallic laminate on the exposedside and with the intervening layers sandwiched to the mesh, so as toprovide a durable, robust adhesive system not prone to memory failingsand having a high level of adhesion to the appropriate substrate.

The adhesive tape and resultant gutter guard product is adapted forready application to gutters and roofs and in particular, a selection ofan appropriate mesh to a variety of roofing situations found in avariety of jurisdictions.

The improved gutter mesh product as disclosed provides a high level ofresistance to UV damage by virtue of the metal laminate on the outeredge thereof, with the acrylic foam giving a basis and support foradhesion via an acrylic adhesive to the gutter. The stainless steel oraluminium mesh is chosen most preferably having approximately 12 to 14strands per inch, a wire diameter of about 0.25 mm and apertures of 2mm.

The installation of the gutter guard of the invention as shown in FIGS.2 and 3, demonstrate that the gutter guard product when installed onmetal corrugated roofing 8 as shown in FIG. 2, or slate asphalt oralternative tiling 8 as shown in FIG. 3, provides the appropriate meshslope so as to displace the bulk of debris falling onto a roof and/orfire embers, which will slide off the roof via the mesh of theinvention, without interruption. The provision of a suitable mesh anddimensioning thereof, allows the simultaneous traversal of rainwaterwhich filters through the mesh to the unobstructed roof gutter 7 forcollection and storage.

The installation of a gutter guard in accordance with the angle ofapplication to the vertical as detailed in FIGS. 2 and 3 providesparticular advantages as the disclosed angles have been found to provideoptimised water and debris separations thereby maximising the protectivefunction of the mesh whilst maximising the collection of water.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a simplified version of theinvention is made up of a length of woven mesh as previously described,with the first edge of the mesh being fitted on a first side with adouble sided acrylic foam closed cell tape having acrylic adhesive onboth sides. In this embodiment, the optional use of the butyl tape tomatch the double sided acrylic foam closed cell tape is omitted and withthe application of suitable pressure, the single layer of double sidedacrylic foam closed cell tape can be caused to migrate through theapertures of the mesh so as to fully integrate along the first edge ofthe mesh and provide exposed tape either side of the edge by virtue ofmigration through the mesh so as to then provide a first exposedadhesive edge for application to the guttering of a roof with the secondexposed edge 5 being on the up side, then available for application of ametallic laminate of the like to provide a high level of durability tothe mesh once applied.

FIG. 4 details the mesh being impregnated into the foam compound, thecompound preferably being T711GN.

For the purposes of understanding this embodiment, FIG. 4 should be readwith Item 1 and 3 as shown in FIG. 1 representing the foam closed celltape post migration through the mesh.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerousvariations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown inthe specific embodiments without departing from the scope of theinvention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore,to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

1. A gutter guard mesh for application to gutter/roof interface of aroof, comprising: a length of woven mesh-like material having an arrayof apertures dimensioned to maximise traversal by rain water andminimise traversal of accumulated debris from said roof; and a doublesided acrylic foam closed cell tape having acrylic adhesive on bothsides, fitted on at least a first edge of said mesh-like material.
 2. Amesh according to claim 1, wherein said first edge is fitted on a firstand opposing second side with said foam closed cell tape.
 3. (canceled)4. A mesh according to claim 1, wherein said foam tape includes asolventless UV cured acrylic visco-elastic polymer core about 1000microns thick.
 5. A mesh according to claim 4, wherein said polymer coreis coated with a solvent based acrylic adhesive to a thickness of about50 micron. 6-9. (canceled)
 10. A method of protecting a guttercomprising the application of a gutter guard mesh according to claim 1,comprising the step of bridging a lip of a gutter and a roof to whichthe gutter guard mesh is attached.
 11. (canceled)